Shrill

By: Lindy West

Narrated by: Lindy West

Length: 6 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's Summary

Hailed by Lena Dunham as an "essential (and hilarious) voice for women", Lindy West is ferociously witty and outspoken, tackling topics as varied as pop culture, social justice, and body image. Her empowering work has garnered a coast-to-coast audience that eagerly awaits Shrill, her highly anticipated literary debut.

West has rocked the public in work published everywhere from The Guardian to GQ and heard on This American Life. She is a catalyst for a national conversation in a world where not all stories are created equal and not everybody is treated with equal respect. Shrill is comprised of a series of essays that bravely share her life, including her transition from quiet to feminist-out-loud, coming of age in a popular culture that is hostile to women (especially fat, funny women), and how keeping quiet is not an option for any of us.

©2016 Lindy West (P)2016 Hachette Audio

Completely necessary

She put into words so eloquently the dehumanization of women who are overweight or obese. It was fun, funny, strong, and not once did feel sorry for herself or try to change herself in hopes people might be nice to her. I tend to despise people more when my appearance is more acceptance, all of a sudden they can turn-on a decency switch & treat you how'd they'd expect to be treated. Funny thing most of the 180 degree personality change is by people who could loose a couple pounds themselves, the nerve! Anyway, she's a brilliant writer and thinker. I admire her for this book.

Impressed

I didn't know this author before this book (not well enough to be excited, at the least), and I am VERY GLAD to have heard it. There are chapters I would like to use in my syllabi in the fall and winter. I would recommend this book as an eye opening approach to life in modern womanhood. She is careful to transact in intersectionality (doesn't pretend white women are the only people on earth). I deeply appreciate that. And she doesn't let any false burdens of "correctness" detract from her story, her life, her experiences. I greatly appreciate that. Worth the listen, for sure.

Conflicting feelings

This book brings to light a lot of hot items right now that should be discussed. Lindy's performance in this book is amazing. Her voice and enthusiasm and storytelling is infectious and you want to keep listening .. BUT after she tells a story or complains about someone that has been rude or judgmental to her, she in turn talks badly about them in a rude and judgmental manner. It's cyclical. That narrative is not helpful, productive, and in my opinion, promotes the wrong type of self image. It just hurt me inside to continue listening to her stories where she complains about people doing something and judges them for something she's also doing, just not about a controversial topic. I can tell that she really does care about the topics she covers, but her approach is harsh.

Bookclub or no bookclub?

So, It's my pick for bookclub and I was looking around the Internet for a "beach read". That was the same night Hillary clinched the nomination and when I saw the title "Shrill" I thought how appropriate. I emailed my bookclub ladies and started the book the next day. After about 30 minutes of listening I emailed them back and said, "oops, probably not the book for us" and picked another book. The first 30 minutes were so incredibly personal to me that the thought of having to discuss the book with my bookclub ladies was more then I thought I could bare. The funny thing is I have been in bookclub, every month, with these 5 women for 15 years! They know everything about me. They love me, warts and all, but this book was taking me to a place that I wasn't sure I could tolerate exposing to them.

I can't remember the last time a book has made me challenge my own thoughts, stereotypes, bias, and judgements as this did. I feel simultaneously embarrassed and righteous.

What a gift Lindy has given to all of us women. I only wish I had a fraction of her strength, wisdom, humor, beauty and grit.

Job well done. Must read.

Lindy lives the way we all wish we could.

Unapologetically. With humor and sass, she tells us she, and we, are OK.
She narrates which makes it feel like you're out having coffee rather than listening to an audiobook.

I love this woman

I am a long time audiobook fan (I like to read with my ears) but I have never binged listened to any book before this. May Lindy West continue to lead platoons of strong, smart, out spoken women whose armor and weapons are their wit and hilarity.

Necessary and delightful

Lindy West's is a voice we need and I'm so happy her book is in the world. If you're a fan, some of these essays will be familiar, but they're enriched a great deal by being presented all together. She's funny and trenchant on the topics she's best known for, but a lot of my favorite moments were the more personal ones. Her account of her father's death and the work she and her now-husband did to build their love and make a family both brought tears to my eyes. Also great to have this on audiobook because her delivery is so great. Put her in a Pixar movie! Wonderful vocal performance. Lindy, we love you.

Fantastic, funny, smart

This book was phenomenal. Smart, very well written, incisive, funny. West brings her capacious wit, empathy and intelligence to tackle tricky topics like fat-phobia, feminism and rape culture. She's also a great reader (which makes sense given her performance background). This was an accessible, fun, and fast read.

Best book ever!

I learned how to look at things a little differently and I am a part of the changes in this world not a bystander any more. I am a smart fat chick who has decided not to fear...just live well and be kind.

Lindy West is feminist leader and gives me hope.

What did you love best about Shrill?

Lindy West is my hero. Her writings make me feel less alone in being a woman. She humorously and unflinchingly looks at some of the darkest parts of modern womanhood. Reading this felt like the quiet conversations you have with a best friend that you think no one else understands. She is a social justice warrior and speaks on behalf of those who are often silenced. This book makes me feel more courageous about standing up to those who silence me when I speak up about injustice.